As subjects and scholars, we negotiate contested spaces daily.We live in a time of global military and political battles,deterritorialized "wars" against drugs and "terror," and aheightened contestation over discourses that definepatriotism, "values" and national identity. These broadbattles over political, economic, cultural, and (inter)nationalborders are localized in struggles over battleground states andresponses to crisis and tragedy.

Recently in northwest Ohio, we have been at the center of thebattle for the White House, academic freedom, definitions ofmarriage, and have struggled to understand the devastationbrought by a cataclysmic tsunami and Hurricane Katrina.Therefore, the graduate students of the American CultureStudies Program at Bowling Green State University are conveningan interdisciplinary conference of active scholars engaged indeveloping critical approaches and interrogations ofdiscriminatory discourses, (re)imagining and (re)constructingan inclusive culture of democratic values.

Grounded in the rich tradition of multi- and transdisciplinarydialogues that are the hallmark of both American and CulturalStudies, this conference will draw from and include a range ofacademic and activist concerns, methodologies and voices. TheBattleground States Conference will critically engage currentbattlegrounds and crises. In particular, we are interested inpresentations that map the terrains of battlegrounds such as:• Bodies and Subjectivity• Refugees, Asylees, and Detainees• Health Care• Public Media• Education, Standardization, and Academic Freedom• Memory and National Identity• Religion/Religious Identities in Secular/Public SpacesWe are also interested in bringing together scholars andactivists whose work reflects on and critically engages withmoments of and responses to crisis. Topics might include:• Media and Race in Hurricane Katrina• Technology, Journalism, and New Media• Institutional Responses to CrisisWe are interested in drawing together scholars from all fieldsof inquiry and are committed to fostering a space in whichacademic voices can actively engage and foster social andpolitical activism.

To be considered as a presenter, please send a presentationproposal, not to exceed 500 words. To propose a panel, pleasesubmit a session proposal describing the panel topic, not toexceed 500 words. We will accept proposals by regular mail andemail (include abstract in both message body as well as anattachment) to the following:

Please direct any and all questions to Adam Franklin via emailat acsconf_at_bgsu.edu or by phone at (419)372-0509. You canalso find additional information on our conference webpage:www.bgsu.edu/departments/acs/acsconf

Panel Proposals –due Jan 1st - should include the aboveinformation for all proposed participants.

Important Information- To preserve time for discussion, ACS limits all presentationsto 15 minutes- Notification of proposal status will be sent around January25th- You may read more than one paper at the conference; however,each paper must be submitted separately- To promote discussion, all papers must be read by theirauthors; persons not in attendance may not have papers readby colleagues.- ACS does not sponsor or fund travel or underwrite participantcosts.